Chapter 11: The Lin Family Faces Trouble

Aunt Wu turned pale when confronted directly and stammered, “I didn’t make things up. Your Aunt Liu said she saw it with her own eyes!”

Lin Yiran turned to look at Aunt Liu. Having just been slapped several times, Aunt Liu looked even more guilty now. “I didn’t! I only heard it from Zhou Ke. It was Zhou Ke who said it.”

Lin Yiran then looked back at Aunt Wu. Nearby, Xiaohu’s mother, who had just figured out what had really happened, was furious.

“You’re all spouting nonsense! Last night, Yiran was the one who saved my son, Xiaohu, when he fell into the river. How could you spread such vile lies? You’re supposed to be elders—how can you slander the younger generation without a shred of decency?”

Xiaohu himself ran over and clung to Lin Yiran. “If it weren’t for Auntie Yiran saving me yesterday, I’d be gone.”

Xiaohu’s mother explained clearly what had happened the previous evening, and others began to recall details too.

“That’s right! I saw Yiran yesterday evening on her way to the river to find Zhiqiang and the others.”

“Exactly! She saved Xiaohu, and now you people slander her. If this keeps up, who will dare save anyone again in the future?”

“Right! Aunt Wu, Aunt Liu, and Aunt Zeng—you really are cruel-hearted. How could our village harbor people like you?”

The crowd grew indignant. Every year, mischievous children got into trouble, and with adults too busy to watch them, accidents weren’t rare.

If young women stopped saving drowning children for fear of gossip, what kind of disaster would that be?

As Xiaohu’s mother and the others spoke, Lin Yiran’s gaze met Xiao Ziyi’s among the crowd. His eyes were fixed solely on her.

Hearing Xiaohu’s mother’s words, and recalling the thanks she had received last night, Lin Yiran suddenly realized—yesterday, Xiao Ziyi had told everyone it was her who saved Xiaohu, without mentioning his own part.

His unwavering gaze made her shy, and she quickly looked away, muttering inwardly, Why is this bigshot out here stirring things up instead of staying at the educated youth compound with his books?

Aunt Wu, flustered by everyone’s accusations, shouted helplessly, “It was Zhou Ke who said it! My daughter never lies. Zhou Ke, get out here! Stop pretending to be dead inside!”

Her two useless brothers shoved Zhou Ke forward. Blushing, Zhou Ke said timidly, “Lin Yiran, I’m sorry… I just heard it from someone else. I didn’t think it would turn into this.”

“Then who did you hear it from?” Lin Yiran pressed.

Remembering Lin Yun’s threats, Zhou Ke didn’t dare speak.

Seeing her silent, Lin Yiran declared, “Since you can’t say, I’ll take it as your own doing. You spread false rumors to slander me, so you must compensate me.”

Turning to Aunt Wu, she added, “You’ve been the loudest today. You and your daughter must both apologize and compensate me.”

Without hesitation, she walked straight into Aunt Wu’s house, picked some vegetables and eggs, and came back out.

Aunt Wu nearly choked with rage—it hurt more than losing blood. “How dare you take my things? We already apologized! What more do you want?”

Lin Yiran’s voice was firm but calm. “A woman’s reputation is the most important thing. Do you think a casual apology can settle this? Besides, I’m only doing what you do. Don’t you often demand compensation whenever someone supposedly frightens or disturbs you?”

“Well, I’m uncomfortable now too, so I need compensation.”

Her crisp words, delivered with a smile, drew cheers from the crowd. Everyone there had suffered from Aunt Wu’s habit of extorting goods under flimsy excuses.

Lin Yiran didn’t keep what she took for herself. She divided the vegetables and eggs among those who had spoken up for her.

“Thank you, uncles and aunties, for standing by reason today. Now everyone knows what kind of person I am, and I wasn’t misled by their lies.”

Aunt Wu flung herself on the ground, rolling, crying, and shouting for her family. “Are you all dead? Our things are being taken and you’re not saying a word?”

But her husband, sons, and daughters-in-law didn’t dare come out. They knew they were in the wrong, and how could they possibly argue?

Lin Yiran then turned to the silent Aunt Liu and Aunt Zeng. “I’ll let you two off this time without demanding compensation. But remember this—if any rumors about me spread in the future, I’ll assume it was you.”

Both women nodded frantically, terrified that Lin Yiran might raid their homes too.

As the farce finally ended, night had fallen. The crowd slowly dispersed, everyone returning to their own homes and chores.

After distributing the goods, Lin Yiran was left with a single egg in her hand. She walked ahead, while her mother, sisters-in-law, and other villagers chatted happily, quickly pulling away. Gradually, only Xiao Ziyi remained by her side.

Once again, their eyes met. Lin Yiran couldn’t tell if it was impulse or gratitude for his help in pulling Xiaohu from the water yesterday—and for giving her all the credit—but her heart stirred.

Lin Yiran quickly walked past Xiao Ziyi and slipped the egg into his hand. In the darkness, no one noticed this small act—only Xiao Ziyi felt the brief, soft touch before it was gone.

Xiao Ziyi wanted to hold the egg tightly but didn’t dare to use too much force, afraid it might break. After all, this was the egg Lin Yiran had given him.

The moment she handed it over, Lin Yiran regretted it, but it was too late to take it back. Just think of it as repaying him for the candy, she told herself.

She hurried to her mother’s side and held her arm. Seeing her daughter rush over, Wang Fang thought she was afraid of the dark and quickly clasped her hand, just like when Yiran was little.

Back in the village, families returned home, washed up, and went to sleep.

When Aunt Wu entered her house, she slapped her daughter hard. “You useless wretch! A jinx! Good-for-nothing!”

She then went after her two daughters-in-law, hitting them too. “You just stood there while I was being beaten! What use are you, worthless things?”

The two women hid behind their husbands. Aunt Wu, unwilling to strike her sons, turned back and slapped her daughter again. “Just seeing your face makes me sick. Why don’t you just die?”

Zhou Ke could only weep silently, not daring to speak. Her father smoked and muttered, “Enough already. Stop making a scene, or people will come to laugh at us again.”

He shut himself in his room, leaving Aunt Wu spitting in anger. Coward. Others came to our door and beat us, and you hide inside like a turtle. How dare you lecture me!

Meanwhile, Aunt Liu and Aunt Zeng returned home bruised and disheveled. Their families scolded them for bringing shame.

Lin Jianshu, smoking with a scowl, sneered, “You still won’t behave? Our son is already in prison—do you want to end up there too?”

Aunt Zeng wailed, “I was beaten out there, and all of you hid at home! If my son were here, he would have defended me!”

Lin Jianshu’s face darkened. “You gossiping woman—still no sign of repentance!”

The two quarreled loudly. In her room, Lin Yun kept quiet. She had been delighted earlier when everyone was gossiping about Lin Yiran, but how had things turned so quickly, with the Lin family being beaten instead?

She hid under her blanket, not daring to come out for fear of being her mother’s next target. Thankfully, Zhou Ke hadn’t exposed her.

…

The next morning, Xiao Ziyi was the first to wake up, as always. At the educated youth compound, he was usually the one to prepare breakfast.

He cooked the meal, then boiled the egg Lin Yiran had given him and ate it. Somehow, that egg tasted better than any other.

In the afternoon, he brought out the supplies he had bought and shared some with the others at the compound. The educated youths, rarely able to taste candy and biscuits, thanked Brother Xiao warmly.

Xiao Ziyi nodded, picked up the rest of the goods, and was about to leave when Zhuang Wenting stopped him.

“Brother Ziyi, where are you going?”

“The village chief helped repair the educated youth compound. I’m going to thank him. Chen Tai, come with me.”

Reliable as always, Xiao Ziyi knew how to show gratitude. Everyone had wanted to invite the village chief for a meal, but he had declined. Now, Brother Xiao had bought gifts on behalf of them all, repaying the kindness.

Chen Tai eagerly followed. Zhuang Wenting, however, still found it strange. In her impression, Brother Ziyi wasn’t usually this attentive.

…

The Lin family had just finished their meal when Xiao Ziyi and Chen Tai arrived.

After explaining their purpose, Lin Jianguo repeatedly declined the gifts and asked them to take them back.

But Xiao Ziyi set the goods down and said gently, “Actually, I’ve troubled the village chief the most. Once the busy farming season ends, I’m not very good at cooking. Would it be possible for me to eat with your family for a while?”

During the farming season, the educated youths ate together, but afterward, everyone usually cooked for themselves. Those who got along well with certain villagers sometimes shared meals.

Lin Jianguo found it hard to refuse under Xiao Ziyi’s steady, earnest gaze. Chen Tai was astonished. Brother Xiao is brilliant—he knows that Sister-in-law Lin’s cooking is the best in the whole village!

Thick-skinned, Chen Tai quickly added, “I’d like to eat with your family too, if that’s okay?”

But Xiao Ziyi had no idea Sister-in-law Lin’s cooking was famous. He only wanted more opportunities to be around Lin Yiran. Glancing toward her room, he smiled faintly.

In the end, Lin Jianguo agreed. Wang Fang was delighted. Xiao Ziyi clearly had a bright future, and she also liked Chen Tai.

Lin Yiran, however, was dumbfounded. Xiao Ziyi eating with our family? What about the heroine? Isn’t this supposed to be the part where the male and female leads share meals and grow closer?